Objective
The social insects are among the great achievements of organic evolution and their societies represent a major evolutionary transition in lifes move towards complexity. Consequently, insect societies have historically held a considerable interest for both biologists and lay people. One particularly interesting and rapidly developing field for evolutionary biologists is the interaction between social insects and their parasites. My proposal will be set within this field. I will use the parasite fungus, Cordyceps, as a tool to examine host-parasite relationships within social insects (Carpenter ants; Camponotus genus, from Thailand). This interesting fungus manipulates the behaviour of ants to achieve transmission. I will focus on two key areas that I consider vital to understanding the fundamental evolutionary biology of this relationship: the evolutionary history and the manipulation of host behaviour. For key area 1 I will reconstruct a host-parasite phylogeny, examine prevalence among nests and compare group I intron load with published findings form other insects. For key area 2 I will test two hypotheses relating to the behaviour of infected ants using chemical ecology and population genetic approaches (ant graveyard and Trojan ant respectively).
The work has a number of important interdisciplinary aspects between me, the proposed host (Prof. Boomsma, Copenhagen), his collaborators and two prominent Cordyceps biologists. All of which increases the potential of me successfully carrying out the stated objectives within the time frame laid down. This proposal is coherent with my research profile but, importantly, will give me advanced training in core scientific skills (phylogenetics, chemical ecology and population genetics). I will also gain important complementary skills training such as budgeting, grant writing and conference organising. This fellowship will enhance my potential for achieving a position of professional maturity and independence.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology mycology
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
COPENHAGEN
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.